Contact: Richard Chinn, tel 023 8042 7000 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report covers a wide range of activities undertaken by specialist teams within the Environment Department and gives details on programmes for:

(i) Intelligent Transport Systems;

(ii) Bridgeworks;

(iii) Hampshire Country Towns Initiative;

(iv) Development Related Works; and

(v) Recreational Cycling.

2. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

2.1 The ITS Group of the Environment Department is responsible for feasibility, design, implementation, operation and maintenance of traffic control and traffic and travel information systems throughout Hampshire. Most new implementation is funded through the capital programme or external funding, whilst the maintenance of the central systems and facilities on-street are funded through the revenue budget.

2.2 During 2004/05 the deployment of ITS continues to be significant and includes a large number of new traffic signals, pelican crossings, cycle crossings, real-time bus passenger information systems, car park information systems, variable message signs, bus departure information systems, etc. This has resulted in a significant increase in the scope and geographic coverage of ITS facilities in Hampshire. The increase in the deployment of ITS will mean increased traffic control facilities, and an enhanced traffic and travel information service can be provided and disseminated through the media and internet. This aspect of traffic and travel information will be further enhanced and integrated on a sub-regional basis through close working with the City Councils on the Solent Transport Initiative.

2.3 An important role of the ITS Group is the maintenance and operation of the traffic control and other associated on-street ITS equipment. The majority of the traffic signals and pelican crossings report faults automatically through to the traffic and travel information centre based in Winchester and all sites are visited regularly to inspect the condition of the equipment. Any faults are then reported to the appropriate maintenance contractor for remedial action and repairs. Sites are refurbished or replaced through the revenue budget to ensure that equipment is operating in a safe and effective manner and complies with the currents standards and regulations.

2.4 It is likely that the provisions contained in the secondary powers of the Traffic Management Act will place greater emphasis on the role of the ITS Group as the requirements for monitoring and improving the operation of the highway network will place greater responsibilities on the County Council.

2.5 The following schemes are proposed for implementation during 2004/05 within Test Valley:

(i) New pedestrian and cycle crossings at the existing traffic signals at the junction of Castle Lane and Templars Way, Knightwood, Chandlers Ford. A project appraisal is being taken to the Executive Member for Environment in October. Subject to approval, work could begin on-site in the new year.

(ii) A new puffin crossing at Eastern Avenue, Andover, funded from the 2004/05 pedestrian facilities programme.

(iii) Bus Departure Information System (BDIS) for Andover bus station, funded as part of the ITS central systems budget. Subject to approval of a project appraisal, works could commence on-site in the new year.

3. Bridgeworks

3.1 The Bridges Section of the Environment Department is responsible for all existing county highway structures, and with new structures built as part of roadworks, housing and industrial schemes. It covers inspection, maintenance, replacement, load assessment and strengthening. Raynesway Construction Southern Limited (RCS) carries out most maintenance, through a term contract. Some specialist work, such as graffiti removal, and larger schemes, such as bridge replacements, are awarded by tender.

Funding

3.2 Most work on bridges is capital funded via the Local Transport Plan (LTP), but inspections, routine maintenance and environmental maintenance of subways are revenue funded.

Load Assessment and Strengthening

3.3 This programme was instigated by the EU legislation allowing 40 tonne lorries on UK roads from 1 January 1999. The assessments are now complete and strengthening of sub-standard bridges is ongoing.

Road/Rail Interfaces

3.4 Following the Selby crash in February 2001, parapets and safety fences at road/rail interfaces have been prioritised, the majority of which are bridges. A rolling programme for protective measures has been started and will continue over several years, as funding is made available.

Aluminium Parapets

3.5 The Highways Agency has identified that aluminium vehicle parapets made by BACO, installed before 1994, are not to current standards. All such parapets on county bridges have been prioritised and awarded a contract for their replacement to RCS.

3.6 RCS will be replacing the parapets on four structures in the Test Valley area:

(i) New Barters bridge over the River Blackwater at Ower, planned for the end of October/early November 2004;

(ii) Harrow Way subway, Andover and River Dever East Bridge, Bullington, planned for January 2005; and

(iii) Bunny bridge at Longstock, planned for February 2005.

Most of the work will take place under lane closures controlled by temporary signals, but that on Bunny bridge will need a road closure.

3.7 The parapets on two further subways in Andover were due to be strengthened. However, the Highways Agency has advised that strengthening is no longer an approved option and complete replacement will be needed. This has been deferred to next financial year, due to the extra cost.

2004/05 Schemes in Test Valley

Littleton Bridge, Fyfield

3.8 This bridge carries the C77, Fyfield Road, over the Pilhill Brook at Fyfield. Dean and Dyball is replacing the existing bridge with a precast concrete culvert with a larger flow area, to reduce flooding. Work started on 9 August and is due to have been completed by the time of the Panel meeting. A road closure with a signed diversion is in place during the works.

4. Hampshire Country Towns Initiative (HCTI)

4.1 The Country Towns Initiative is a County Council programme which carries out schemes of environmental enhancement in the county's rural centres to reinforce their environmental, social and commercial attractiveness. It focuses on highways and other public areas and works in partnership with local councils and representative organisations. It brings together funding from the County Council, District or Borough Council and local sources and links highway and environmental objectives and funding. The following scheme is in the 2004/05 HCTI programme.

Church Place, Romsey

4.2 This scheme, currently close to completion, seeks to enhance the approach to the Abbey using high quality steel furniture and paving materials.

5. Development Related Works

5.1 Works within the Test Valley area currently being carried out under Section 38 or Section 278 Agreements are detailed in Appendix 1.

5.2 External funding and schemes relevant to that funding are detailed in Appendix 2.

6. Recreational Cycling

6.1 The Environment Department, in partnership with the Recreation and Heritage Department, administers the county-wide Recreational Cycling Programme, which currently has an allocation of £100,000 from the Transport Capital Programme. The principle of supporting the programme was approved by the Executive Member for Environment, resulting from an earlier review of the Recreational Cycling Strategy (2002-06), showing that the prioritisation of the Strategy's delivery in both cycling promotion and facility delivery has considerable potential to assist the implementation of the County Council's LTP and Road Traffic Reduction Act cycle use targets (now under review). It was supported that, to deliver important links in the cycling facilities' network, often in rural areas, the Strategy needs to be assisted with capital funding support from the LTP. The programme also aims to contribute to the delivery of the National Cycle Route and the National Byway, thus giving increased opportunities for cycle use both within Hampshire and linking to networks developed by neighbouring authorities.

2004/05 Schemes in Test Valley

National Byway

6.2 The National Byway is a signed leisure cycle route around Britain focusing on places of interest and heritage. In 1999 the first National Byway route in England was opened, forming a 153 mile route between Winchester- Shaftesbury-Winchester. Since then the network has grown to some 4,000 miles across the country.

6.3 In partnership with the National Byway, Wiltshire County Council and South Gloucestershire Council, it is proposed that a new National Byway route is opened between Winchester and Cirencester in 2004/05. In reality much of this route is already signed by the existing National Byway route in Hampshire so additional signing will be kept to a minimum.

6.4 The proposed route, therefore, follows the existing signed Winchester-Shaftesbury route, via Kings Somborne and Stockbridge to Houghton. The new route will then head through Broughton, the Wallops, Grateley and Fyfield before meeting the Hampshire/Wiltshire border just north of Appleshaw.

6.5 The proposed route has been safety audited by Hampshire County Council's safety engineering team. The next phase of the project is consultation followed by the preparation of a signing schedule. The cost of the scheme is £5,000 (as per 2004/05 recreational cycling budget). The construction start date is February/March 2005 (signing only).

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

8980/RC